Adjustable foot support for ladders



Oct. 29, 1929. M. F. ENKE 1,733,338

ADJUSTABLE FOOT SUPPORT FOR LADDERS Fil ed Jan. 19, 1928 Patented Oct. 29, 1929 l l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARTIN F. ENKE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA ADJUSTABLE FOOT SUPPORT FOR LADDERS Application filed January 19, 1928. Serial No. 247,946.

lhe primary object of my invention relates sinking of the ladder into the soil when the to ladders and more particularlv to ladders same is relatively loose or mellow. for use in orchards for the picking of fruit A further object of my invention consists in and the like and has for its primary object the providing means that is easily applied, that adapting of the ladder to uneven ground to may be used successfully by any one un- 50 make the same stand in a substantially upfamiliar with mechanical devices, that may right position and free from leaning due to he cheaply made and that can be used over th neveness of the ground upon which the relat vely long periods without alteration or same is used. p

The invention consists primarily of a lVith these and incidental objects in View, 55 frame l t tt h bl t th id frame the invention consists in certain novel fea- Of a ladder and having a locking l t ttures of construction and combination of tached t th frame unit. A foot supporting parts, the essential elements of which are set element is disposed at the lower end of a reforth 111 e appended claims and a preciprocable element, means being provided for f tl fOIIn of embodiment of which is here- 60 locking the reciprocable element at any inafter shown with reference to the drawplaced position relative to the locking eleings which accompany and form a part of nt, this specification. 4 Means being further rovided for the re- In the draw ngs: turning of the reciproca le element into nor- Flg. 1 1s a front view of a ladder erected 5 mal position. A foot member is disposed P H uneven ground, illustrating one of the lower end of the reciprocable element and y new and improved devices in place upon being hingedly secured thereto. one of the side fraines of the ladder.

Means being further provided to lock the Fig. 2 is aside view, taken on line 2-2 of 5 reciprocable element in placed position when Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated, 70 weight is applied upon the ladder that pret Same being made in an enlarged view to vents the unlocking of the reciprocable eleillustrate the detailed construction of the denient until the weight has been relieved from vice.

, the laddelfi I Fig. 3 is aside elevation, partially in section The primary object of my invention is to f th mechanism shown in Fig. 2. 75

provide means attachable to the side frame of Fi 4 i a fragmentary, ti l id 1 a ladder to compensate in length for the side Vation, taken on line H of Fi rail of the ladder when the same is in use in the directicn indicated upon uneven ground. 5 is a Ders f 1 1 1 1 pec we view 0 t 1e 00 ring A i tt g fi g gi gf ggi zg element, shown detached from the remainder 80 m provlc mb an e b y of the device.

se the ladder.

ll lizfi e s l ib w h iii Cl l a l V lIlgg but one d ig. 6 IS a perspective View of the reciprovice attached to a ladder, but where the same Cable element: Shown remolegl from are being d upon stepladders and the like, vice and unattached to any or the associated 85 it may be found desirable to place one of my m s; devices upon either of the side frames of the g- 1S a perspectlve Vlew of the locklng ladder. pawl. t

A further object of my invention consists Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch bar. in providing means for preventing the undue Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the foot ele- 0 g. 2, looking ment shown detached from the associated elements.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1 and 2 are the side frames of an ordinary ladder, and where ladders of this kind are used they are reversible, both sides generally being similar in shape, and size, and the ladder rungs 3, being placed centrally thereof, so that in a ladder of this type but one of my devices would be necessary. Vhere the same is to be used upon stepladders, fruit picking and orchard ladders and the like, such ladders are not reversible; upon these ladders it may be found necessary and desirable to place one of my devices upon each side frame member, but in the event that this were done the devices are similar for either side so it is necesasry to describe in detail but one.

I preferably form my device of a frame unit 4, having outwardly extending side walls 5 and .6, and. having an end wall 7, and having outwardly flaring walls at the lower extremity to increase the width of the frame 4. The frame 1 may be attached to the side frame 1 of the ladder, by any suitable fasten ving means, as by screws 8 and 9. A locking bar 11 is attachable to the frame lby any suitable fastening means 12. These fastenings 8 and 9 may extend through the frame 4 and into the side frame 1 of the ladder. Outwardly extending lugs 13, are provided from .the body portion of the locking .bar 11 and the trip 1% is hingedly mounted therein by a journal pin 15. A locking pawl 16 hingedly positions of engagement within spaced slots 20 of the reciprocable element 21. The reciprocable element 21 is slidable relative to the frame 4, and the locking bar. The side walls 22 .and 23of the reciprocable element 21, engaging the side walls 24 and 25 of the locking bar 11 and forms a guideway for the maintaining of the same in a proper and suitable working relationship. The inner surface of the engaging end of the locking pawl 16 adapted for engagement within the spaced slots 20 of the reciprocable element 21, and engages with the lower end 26 of the locking bar 11, so that a shearing action is applied to the locking pawl when weight is applied to the ladder. To unlock the locking pawl '16 r from engagement with the slot 27, it is necessary to relieve the weight from the ladder and to depress the latch 14 by the application of pressure upon the outer end 28 of the latch l t at which time the spring 19 will be depressed and the locking latch 16 will be partially rotated about the journal pin 17, and at the same time be released from engagement from the slot. lVhen this is done the spring 29, .which is secured to the reciprocable bar 21,

willreturn the same to normally raised position. lVhen it is necessary to lower the reciprocable element 21 it is necessary to apply an added pressure to the foot 30 hingedly secured to the lower end of the reciprocable element 21, until the same has been sufficiently lowered, at which time the locking pawl 16 will engage a spaced slot 20 and the same be locked in position. It is highly desirable to have a hinged foot the lower end of the reciprocable element 21. This is accomplished by having an upturned lug 32 disposed upon the foot element. 31 and a journal pin 33 passes through the opening 34 of the lug 32 and through the hole 35 of the reciprocable element 21, thus forming a hinged foot element in the lower end of the reciprocable element 21. Ledges 36 and 37 may be formed at each end of the foot 31 and downwardly extending therefrom to form calks to prevent slippage of the foot if applied upon fairly hard supporting surfaces.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended .to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment nerein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the combinationof a frame element, a lockingbar fixedly mounted upon the frame element, a reciprocable element having slots in spaced relation slidably disposed between the frame element and the locking bar, lugs upwardly extending from the locking bar, a trip pivotally mounted between said upwardly extending lugs by a journal pin, asecond set of lugs disposed upon the outer surface of the locking bar, a locking pawl hingedly mounted upon the locking bar, a resilient element mounted to the journal pin of the trip and adapted for maintaining the trip and the locking pawl in intimate contact, one end of the locking pawl being in registerable alignment for engagement with the aforesaid slots, and means disposed within the .;f rame element for maintaining the reciprocable ele-- ment in a normally raised position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame element adapted for engagement with the side frame of aladder, a

form a guideway, a reciprocable element disposed therein, said reciprocable element having a multiple of slots in spaced relation,

means for normallymaintaining the reciprocable element in raised position,;a locking and engage withinthe spaced ,slots of the locking bar attachable to the frame element to reciprocable element, and means for tripping the locking pawl through the manual manipulation of the trip.

3. In a device of the class described, a stationary member, an extension member slidable therein, said extension member being provided With a plurality of spaced slots, a looking pawl rockably mounted to said stationary member, said locking pawl having a portion adapted for entrance into the aforesaid slot-s, including means yieldably urging such entrance and'a trip mounted upon the locking bar provided with a pedal for foot operation adapted for moving said pawl out of engagement With said slots.

MARTIN F. ENKE. 

